Apparatus for operating on spinning frames and other machines



N v. 11, 1930. w, B. WALKER 1,781,142

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ON SPINNING FRAMES AND OTHER MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3 1325 V A L 1 +2 L '0 k J INVENTOR. A

' 7 ATTORNEYS. 24'

Nov. 11, 1930.

w. s. WALKER 1,781,142

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ON SPINNING FRAMES AND OTHER MACHINES Filed June 3, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IF II H II 1 1-4 1 JI 4| llZ 1 l r 1r-!'F'|| If I T 1! AI Jl ll II J J) r II II IF-II I!!! JL 41 II J A TTORNEYS. V

Nov. 11, 1930. w. B. WALKER APPARATUS OPERATING ON SPINNING FRAMES AND OTHER MACHINES v,Filed'June I5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 rllllllli'nlirlll Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES .PATENT} OFFICE WILLIAMBLWALKER, or noxnoao, NORTH CAROLINA Application filed June 3,

It has been a serious problem in spinning mills to prevent the formation of so-called bunches, slugs or gouts in the yarn, which are caused by the accumulation of minute par- .ticles of loose fibers, invisible fly, lint,'and dirt -on thework during the spinning operation. These bunches materially impair the quality of the yarn, and it has been estimated that they cause from twenty to thirty per cent of loom stoppages. The operators in every spinning'mill are at constant war against'the formation of these, bunches and efforts to solve the problem have cost tremendous amounts of money and time. The common practice 1 has been to frequently clean the machines by hand with brush and broom or by compressed air, but those methods are superficial and have little real cleaning value, except when the entire room is stopped and then only under careful hands.

the solution of this problem is in keeping the air over the machines free from these fine particles and thus prevent the accumulation thereof.

An object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for accomplishing this result.

The spinning frames are commonly arranged in the spinning room in rows, with the frames in each row arranged end to end. In

- connection with such arrangement of spinning frames and other machines, and with the above mentioned and other objects in view, my invention contemplates the provision of a method and an apparatus for carrying out .35 the method whereby a stream of air may be directed downwardly and traversed overthe machines of each row successively, the pressure of the air bein sufficient to force the loose fibers, lint and irt, away from thework and toward-the floor in such a manner asto prevent adhesion or accumulation until after they pass beneath the work. Preferably the stream ofv air is of substantially the'width.

I have found, however, that 1925. Serial No. 34,572.

chines so as to draw the dust and'o'ther fine particles from the machines and work and, accordingly, it is to be understood that, except as defined in the claims, certain features of my invention are not limited to amethod or apparatus whereby the desired result is accomplished by downwardly directed currents of air.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings an endless track is arranged above the several rows of machines, and a blower is mounted to travel continuously along the track bypower operated means so as to direct the stream-of air downward-1y over the several rows of machines successively, the blower thus traveling over each machine at predetermined intervals.

The several features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which, I

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of an apparatus which is particularly adapted forvuse in carrying out my'improved method;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical View, illustrating the manner in which the apparatus may operate upon a plurality of rows of spinning.

frames or similar machines;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 4- 4 .of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the blower nozzle and associatedparts; i

Fig. 6 is. a detail sectional view on an enlardged scale taken on the line 66 ofFig. 4; an r Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatical views illustrating the manner in which the blower nozzle is adapted to be adjusted to clear ob structions in its path of travel.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings 'is particularly adapted for use in operating upon spinning frames, indicated at 2 in Fig. 3, which are commonly arranged in the spin- .ning room in rows with the frames of each row arranged end to end. As shown in Fig.

3 the apparatus isprovided with an endless track 4 which extends centrally over the machines of each row. air impelling device or blower 6 is mounted to travel alongthe track continuously by power operated means so as to operate successively upon the machines of each row, and upon the seivera']. rows of machines successively so that each frame is operated upon at predetermined inshaft 19'arranged vertically. The motor 18,

through suitable connections hereinafter described, drives the sheave 12 so as to propel the blower along the track, and also drives the fan 16. The fan 16 and motor 18 are enclosed by a sheet metal casing 20 which is made in two sections 21 and 22 that are welded together at 23.--The upper'section 21"is cylindrical, and the lower section 22 is suitably shaped to form a blower nozzle having its discharge orifice 24 of substantially the width of the spinning frames.

The driving sheave 12is secured on one end of a horizontal shaft 26 which extends through and is j ournaled in suitable bearings in the bifurcated upper end of a vertically arranged post or hanger 28 forming a part of the blower carriage. The connection between the sheave shaft 26 and the motor shaft 19 comprises a vertical shaft 30 which extends through suitable bearings in the post or hanger 28 and has its upper end connected with the shaft 26 through bevel gears 32.

. The lower end of the vertical shaft 30 carries aspur gear 34 which operatively engages a plnion 36 secured on a vertical shaft 38 which extends through and is journaled in suitable:

bearings in a dependingpost or hanger 40 which is cast integral with the post or hanger 28. The vertical shaft 38 is in axial alinement with the motor shaft 19 and is connected therewith through a suitable fiexiblecoupling 42. The electric motor is supported by the hanger 40,-by means of a spider 44 which has its hub secured by a set screw 46 to the hanger. The spider is provided with an outer annulus or rim 48 which is connected with the hub by a series of four radial arms50, and is further provided with depending bracket arms 52 having their lower ends bent inwardly to support radial lugs 54 projecting from the motor casing, the lugs being secured to the bracket arms by bolts 56.

The annulus 48 of the spider supports the nozzle casing 20. To. provide. for this an annular member 55 is riveted to the inside of the upper end of the cylindrical section 21 of the casing andis provided with a hori- -beyond the flange 57 tapers or is inclined downwardly and inwardly so as to direct the zontal annular flange 57 "that extends over the outer portion of the annulus 48. The flange 57 and annulus 48 are provided w1th opposed annular grooves forming a raceway for ball-bearings 59 so that the nozzle cas ng may be turned or swiveled about a vertical axis as hereinafter described. The nozzle casing 20 is held so as to position its discharge orifice 24 transversely of the spmmng frames during the normal operation of the blower by means of a series of three equally spaced rollers 60 which are received in notchlike recesses 62 in the flange 57. The rollers 60 are mounted'on arms 64 which are pivotally mounted on upstanding brackets 66 secured to the annulus 48, and the rollers are, pressed downwardly on the flange 57 by means of coiled springs 68 interposed between the-free end of the arms and an abutment on the bracket members. The rollers 60 in addition to holding the casing in the desired position also serves to maintain the flange 57 down upon the ball-bearings 59. The portion of the annulus 48 that projects inwardly air entering the casing toward the blades of the fan 16.

The other sheave 14 is loosely mounted on the rear end 'of a rearwardly pro ect1ng bracket arm 70 securedto the upper end por-. tion of the vertical post or hanger 28.

The fan 16 is of suitable construction so as to-direct the air downwardly through the nozzle of the casing 20. As shown this fan 1 is provided with a hub 72 secured on the upper end of the motor shaft19 and with suitably formed blades 74 which are secured at their lower ends to an outwardly and down- Wardly flaring web 76 PIOJGCtIIIg from the fan hub 72, the upper ends of the blades being connected by a horizontally arranged annular sheet metal ring 78.

To energize the electric motor 18, trolley wires 80 are suitably mounted on blocks of no insulating material 82 supported on the under side of the blower tracks '4. These .trol- 10 wires are engaged bytrolley wheels 84 w ich are mounted on the free ends of arms 86 ivotally mounted on the upper ends of bin ing posts 88. Each trolley wheel is held u in enga ement'with its wire by means 0 a suitab arranged spring v90 engaging the under sideof the arm. The bindin posts 88 extend through aperturesin a p ate 92 of insulating material and are suitably 'secured therein. The plate 92 is secured on the upper end of 'one of thegupstanding brackets 66. The lower ends of'the binding posts are electrically connectedwiththe motor by means of conductors 94.

With. this construction it will be apparent that u on the current through the trolley wires eing turned on; the motor shaft will drive the'fan, and also through its connection with the sheave 12 propel the blower metrically opposite each other and have their 7 continuously along the. track. As the discharge orifice 24 of the blower nozzle extends completely across each machineQover which it passes, the stream of air directed downwardly therefrom will act uniformly on all the machines throughout the length ofeach machine. The nozzle is arranged a suitable distance above the tops of the machines and the blower is propelled at proper speed and the stream of air is delivered from the blower under sulficient pressure to insure the air for a distance above the machines being maintained free from lint and other particles of foreign matter thus preventing accumulation on the machines or work.

In order for the broad nozzle to pass belts, posts or other obstructions at the ends of the machines, a means is rovided for turning the nozzle on the ball bearings 59 so as to-cause it to travel edgewise. In Fig. 7 of the drawings, the nozzle is shown as being thus turned so as to clear a driving belt 96 atthe end of the spinning frame. To provide for this a horizontally arranged abutment guide rod 98 is suitably arranged in the path of a vertical stud or roller 100 mounted upon the rim of the nozzle casing. This guide bar is constructed and arranged so that upon engagement of the roller 100 with the curved forward end 102 thereof, the nozzle will be turned substantially to cause it to travel edgewise by t e belt, the rollers riding out of the notches 62. When the nozzle has passed the belt and the roller 100has cleared the end of the bar 98, it is returned to its initial transverse position by coiled'springs 104: which are arranged diainner ends secured to the lower end of the arms 52 of the spider, and their outer ends secured to the lower portion of the blower nozzle, the springs extending across the wider portion of the nozzle. The return movement of the nozzle by the action of the springs 104is arrested by the engagement of the ratchet pawl rolls 60 inv their respective notches 62.

In case it is necessary to turn the blower nozzle a distance less than as indicated. by broken lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings, an abutment bar-106 may be employed. This bar is so arranged. that instead of the roller engaging the inner side thereof as is the case with the bar 102 above described, the

roller 1 00 rides .over the outer side thereof, and the bar is so positioned as to cause the nozzle to be turned the required degree and to be held in that position until it passes by the obstruction and the roller 100 rides off of the rear end of the bar.

, As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

90 so as.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for operating upon spinning frames and other machines arranged in rows with the several rows arranged side by side having, in combination, an endless track arranged above the rows of machines, a carriage mounted to travel along. the track, means mounted on the carriage for creating a current of air a distance above the machines and directing the air downwardly over the machines, and means for driving the carriage along the track so as to cause each machine to be operated upon at predetermined intervals to uniformlv maintain the machines and the atmosphere above the machines substantially free from dust and other fine particles.

- 2. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, an overhead track, a a carriage mounted on the track, an electric motor mounted on the carriage having its shaft arranged vertically, a fan mounted upon the upper end portion of said motor shaft, a casing enclosing said fan and motor having its upper end open and having a nozzle formed on its lower end for directing a stream of air downwardly, and electrical connections for driving the motor compris ing an overhead trolley conductor and a trolley mounted on the carriage.

3. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage mounted to travel along the track, an electric motor mounted on the carriage below said track having its motor shaft arranged vertically, a fan mounted upon the upper portion of said motor shaft so as to be rotated thereby, a wheel mounted on the track from which said carriage is suspended, suitable connecti'onsibetween said motor shaft and wheel for propellin the carriage along the track, and a nozzle aving its discharge orifice arranged beneath said motor and fan for directing'a stream of air downwardly as thecarriage is propelled along the track.

4. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, an overhead track, a blower mounted to. travel along the track, a nozzle for the blower adapted to direct astream of air downwardly, and means for adjusting the angular position of the nozzle about a substantially vertical axis as the blower travels along the track.

5. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage mounted to travel along the track,

a blower mounted on the carriage, a nozzle.

for the blower mounted on the carriage'and adapted to be turned about avertical axis to adjust the angular position of the outlet end thereof, an abutment mounted on said nozzle,

turning the nozzle to its initial position upon disen agement ofsaid abutments.

6. n apparatus of the class described" having, in combination, an overhead track, a carriage mounted for movement along the track, a blower mounted on the carria e, a blower nozzle having its discharge ori ce relatively long and narrow for directing a stream of air downwardly, a stationary abutment arranged in the path of said nozzle for changing the angular position of the nozzle about a vertical axis upon engagement of the nozzle therewith, and means for returning the nozzle to its initial angular position upon disen agement from said abutment.

7. pparatus for operating upon machines arran ed in 'a row having, in combination, a trac arranged above the row of machines, a carriage mounted on the track, an electric motor mounted on thecarriage having its shaft arranged vertically, a fan mounted upon the upper end portion of said motor shaft, a casing enclosing said fan and motor having its upper end open and having a nozzle on its lower end for directing a stream of air downwardly, electrical connections for energizing said motor, and means connected with said motor shaft for driving the car.- riage along the track. 7

8. Apparatus for operating upon machines arrange track arranged above the row of machines, a wheel mounted to travel along the track, a carriage suspendedifrom said wheel, an electric motor having its shaft arranged vertically, a fan mounted on said shaft and arranged below said track, and driving connection between said motor shaft and\ said 7 wheel.

9. Apparatus for operating upon machines arranged in a row having, in combination, a track arranged above the row of machines, a wheel mounted to travel along the track, a carriage suspended from said wheel, an electric motor having its shaft arranged vertically, a fan mounted on the upper end portion of said shaft, and driving connection between said shaft and said wheel.

1O. Apparatus of the class described hav-- ing, in combination, an overhead track, a blower mounted to travel along the track, a relatively wide nozzle for therblower for directing a stream of air downwardly and its upper end open and having its. lower end provided with'a nozzle for directing a stream of air downwardly. over the machines as the carriage travels along the track, and means for driving the carriage along the track so as to cause each machine to be uniformly operated u on at predetermined intervals.

12. frames and other machines arranged in rows with the several rows arranged side by side In testimony 'whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 1st dayof J une,

' WILLIAM B. WALKER.

in a rowhaving, in combination, a

travel along the track, a blower mounted on a r the carriage provided with a casing having I pparat us for operating on spinning 

